Cotton picker



Aug. 3, 1937. c. H. WHITE 2,088,576

COTTON PICKER Filed June 3, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIE 1 IN VENTOR swam/16 W/T/VESS A TTORNEYS.

C. H. WHITE COTTON PICKER Aug. 3, 1937.

Filed June 3, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/7Nf55 y ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 3, 1937. c. H. WHITE 2,088,676

COTTON PICKER Filed June 3, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 E El INVENTO m ATTORNEYS Aug. 3, 1937. c, w n' 2,088,676

COTTON PICKER Filed June 5, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS 962x64 MW 1937- c. H. WHITE 2,088,676

COTTON PICKER Filed June 5, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IEiE LVKENIOR. M 79 W AZZZ A TTORNEYi 13% wa /14mm Patented Aug? 3, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COTTON PICKER nois Application June 3, 1932, Serial No. 615,126

23 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to cotton pickers and has for its principal purpose the provision of a machine wherein is embodied one or more picking mechanisms which are ndividslually and normally inoperative but w ch are adapted to be rendered operative o by the presence of ned bolls of cotton which are ready to be picked.

In some sections of the country the cotton plants vary in height and the bolls ripen at various times. In some instances, in certain sections, when the cotton fields are ready for the first picking some of the plants also contain young tender bolls in various stages of growth. Under such conditions if the opened or ripened bolls are picked by machine the bolls still green are likely to be seriously damaged. It is, therefore, the principal purpose of the present invention to provide a cotton picker which is capable of operating only leaves the green and unopened bolls .untouched.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates the provision of a cotton picker wherein only a relatively few individually controlled picking mechanisms are provided, each of which is under the control of means responsive to the presence of only opened cotton bolls. Such means may take the form of any sensitive unit which is responsive to some inherent characteristic of an opened boll. Preferably, the present invention utilizes a photo-electric cell which is arranged to be subjected to light reflected from the white cotton of the opened boll. The mecha- 5 nism for picking or removing the cotton is normally inactive, but when an opened boll of cotton comes within the range of the photo-electric cell the picking mechanism controlled thereby is projected out into the plant to pick that boll of 0 cotton, after which it recedes away from the plant and remains inactive until it is again called into operation.

By virtue of this construction a machine is provided which acts only upon the opened cotton bolls and which does not otherwise contact with or injure the plants in any manner.

Other objects of the present invention include the disposition of the picker units upon a wheeled frame in the form of a tractor having a motor,

and actuating the various mechanisms of the picker units by the motor of the tractor. In this connection it is also the purpose of the. present invention to provide on the tractor and driven from the motor thereof a source of electrical cur- 5 rent for operating the various electrical devices uponthe ripened or opened cotton bolls and associated with the photo-electric cells or equivalent means responsive to the presence of opened cotton bolls.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed 5 description of the preferred embodiment, which is to be taken only as illustrative of the principles of the present invention, shown in the accom panying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a two-row machine 10 embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a. side elevation of the machine illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken through 15 one of the individual picking mechanisms and illustrating the same in retracted position;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Figure 3;

' Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a cross section taken along the line a 1-1 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view taken along the line 88 of Figure 9 and showing the disposition of the plurality of individual picking mechanisms and the associated light responsive control means;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

igure 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating in perspective an assembly of several photo-electric control units and the leads therefor; and

Figure 11 is a diagram showing the control circuit and the photo-electric cell incorporated therein.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the machine shown is a two-row machine comprising picking units A and B. Each unit comprises a housing 2 and a tunnel 3. Tunnel 3 is formed by the inner wall 4'of the housing 2; and an inner wall 5 spaced therefrom. The top 6 of housing 2 extends inwardly and meets wall 5 to form the top of the tunnel. Walls 4 and 5 and the inward extension of top 6 are flared outwardly as shown at I, 8 and 9 for the purpose of guiding the plants into the tunnel.

The picking units. are supported from the tractor III by means of a transverse pipe ll supported from the front end of the tractor bymeans of brackets l2 and I3. At each end, pipe II is provided with a pair of spaced arms l4, one pair for each picking unit. Each picking unit is supported from its pair of arms l4 through a pair of links I and a pair of arms I8. Links I5 are pivotally connected to the rear ends of arms I4 and to brackets iI fixed to the top of housings 2. Aims I4 are fixed to shaft I4 rockably mounted in bearing openings in the front 5 ends of arms I4. The ends of arms I4 are pivotally connected tobrackets I8 provided on the top of housings 2.

Shaft I8 is provided with another upwardly extending arm which is link connected by means of link as with the power 1m 21 which, in turn; is driven from the power take-oil mechanism 28 of the tractor. Operating the power lift, causes rotation of shaft I8 and moves the picking units into a transport position as shown 15 in dotted lines in Figure 2.

Each picking unit comprises a plurality of individually controlled picking mechanisms 88. Mounted within the housings 2 these mechanisms are arranged in two vertical rows, there being 3 walls 84 and 85 of a rectangular tube 86. Tube 84 is slidably mounted in a guide 88 which is bolted by means of bolts 88 to the inner side of wall 4 over a rectangular opening 48 therein.

Whenever a cotton boll comes within the range 1 of a picking mechanism, that picking mechanism is projected outwardly to pick that boll by means which is controlled so as to be responsive to the immediate presence of opened bolls of cotton. Preferably, the control means includes a plural- 40 ity of light sensitive units, as will be described later in detail.

The means for moving the pichng mechanism outwardly includes a pair of toggle links H and 42 pivoted together at 48. See Figures 3 and 4.

45 The other end of link 42 is journaled on the hub 44 of a gear 45, while the other end of link 4i. is pivotally connected at 44 to the rearward extension 41 of the bottom wall of tube 88. A third link 48 is connected to the toggle links at 48 at 50 one end and at its opposite end is pivotally connected at 48 to an arm 54 fixed to a short shaft 5i journaled in bracket 52 supported by the vertically extending rod 58 to which the bracket is keyed. One rotation of shaft 5| through the mechanism described forces tube 84, wherein the carding belt 8i is disposed, outwardly and into the space between the walls 4 and 5 and withdraws it again.

The rotation of shaft II is produced through 60 mechanisms which will now be described.

A sprocket 4| is fixed to shaft 5| which is chain connected by means of a chain 42 to a sprocket 48 Journaled on the continuously r0- tating shaft 44. It is held in position on shaft 44 by means of key 45 positioned in the circumferential slot 44 in shaft 44. Sprocket 48 has an elongated hub 41 which has splined engagement with a clutch member 48 which is provided with jaws 48. Jaws 48 may be engaged with companion jaws 480 on the lower face of gear 45.

r This gear is keyed to shaft 44.

The engagement of the clutch jaws is controlled through a lever I8 which embraces the u sleeve 44. A spring II is interposed between the lever and the upper flange of sleeve 48. Lever 18 is pivoted at 12 to the arm I8 ofthe bracket I4 keyed to the vertically extending supporting rod I5. Clutch jaws 48 and 48a are normaily disengaged, the lever I8 being held in its 5 downward position by means of the coiled spring 14 disposed in a socket formed in arm 18 and bearing against the under side of lever I4.

The clutch Jaws 48 and 480 are engaged through the actuation of a magnet II the arma- .1'0 ture 18 of which is pivoted at 18 to the bracket 14. The free end of the armature 18 has connection with a link 88 which in turn has connection with the rear end of lever 18. In Figure 4 the magnet'is shown energized with the clutch 15 Jaws 48 and 49a in engagement.

Shaft 44 receives its power from the power take-off 28 on the tractor. It extends through the top 4 of the housing where it is connected by means of a pair of bevel gears housed in 28 housing 88 to a short shaft 8i which is connected by means of the chain and sprocket connection 82 to the transverse drive shaft 88 journaled in bearing openings in brackets I4. Shaft 88 is driven through the chain and sprocket connec- 25 tion 84 with the short shaft 85 which is connected by means of a pair of bevel gears housed in housing 88, the driver of which is connected by means of the drive shaft 81 to the power takeoff shaft of the tractor. The two vertical shafts 30 84 in each housing, there being one such shaft for each vertical row of picking mechanisms, are connected by means of chain and sprocket connection 88.

The carding belt 3| is trained over a pulley 85 88 fixed on shaft 44 and also over a pulley 8i journaled on a vertically extending spindle 88- fixed to a cylindrical piston 88. slidably positioned in the pipe 94. Spindle 88 projects upwardly through slot 85 extending'the length of 48 the pipe. Pipe 84 is. supported from the wall of the housing 84 spaced from the outer wall 2. The space between wall 84 and the outer wall forms the cotton receiving chamber. The carding belt 8| is also trained over a pulley 81 4| journaled between the arms of a forked bracket 88 formed integral with bracket is The carding belt 8i is held taut by a spring I8I which bears against the closed end of pipe 84 and against the inner end of the piston 88. 58 when the tube 84 is projected outwardly through the opening 48, piston 88 is pulled. towards the closed end of pipe 84, and spring I" is compressed. As soon as the clutch jaws 48 and 484 are disengaged, regardless of what position the 66 tube 88 has been moved to at that time, the

spring I8I immediately acts to retract the tube 88 to its normal retracted position as shown in Figure 3. The carding belt 8I is continuously rotated through its engagement with a pulley 88 Q which is keyed to shaft 54.

Cotton picked by the carding belt 8| is drawn into the tube 84 through the flared opening 88a thereof and back between it and the wall of the tube. It is removed from the carding belt 65 by means of a high speed continuously operating brush I85. Brush I85 is fixed to the continuously rotating vertical shaft I84. The outer periphery of the brush I85 brushes the barbs of the carding belt 8|. Its peripheral velocity is great- 70 er than that of the carding belt. Adjacent each carding belt an opening I" is provided in the wall 88, this opening enteringinto the cotton receiving chamber. The brush I85 in removing the cotton from the carding belt brushes it through the opening I01 into the cotton receiving chamber.

Shaft I06 is rotated through a gear I06 keyed to the shaftand meshing with gear 46. Only one set of gears I08 and 46 need be provided for each pair of shafts I06 and 64. Therefore, for all picking mechanisms ineach vertical row except one, gears I06 and 45 are omitted. For such picking mechanisms clutch jaws 69a are provided" on the bottom face of the flanged sleeve keyed to shaft 64-.

For the control of each picking mechanism, a separate control unit is provided, as mentioned above. This unit comprises the apparatus diagrammatically shown in Figure 11. This includes photo-electric cell I20, an amplifying tube I2I, a rlay I 22, an ordinary red light I23, and fixed resistances I24 and I25 and variable resistances I26 and I2! connected in the manner shown in Figure 11. This mechanism is mount,- ed in the small boxes I28, the several boxes in each vertical row being slidably positioned in a frame work I29 which is supported in the housings between the angle irons I30, I3I, I32 and I33. The control assembly, including one series of control units, can be removed by pulling same upwardly through openings in the top of the picker housings. See Figures 1, 2 and 10.

Each box I28 is provided with an opening I40 which aligns with an opening I in the Wall 4 of the picker housing and red light emanating through this opening gives the white opened cotton bolls a red color and the rest of the plant including the leaves and stalk and any green bolls appear black. Anotheropening I42 is provided in each box I28 which aligns with holes I43 in the side 4 of the picker housing. The photo-cells I20 are mounted in front of these openings.

In the operation of the device, red light rays reflected from the cotton bolls through openings I42 impinge upon the photo-cell I20 which raises the potential on the grid of the amplifying tube I2I. This causes an increased flow of current in the coil of relay I22 causing it to close its contacts I50. The closure of contacts I50 completes a circuit with the magnet 11 causing it to be energized which, as previously explained, results in the projection of the picking mechanism out through the opening 40. As soon as the cotton boll is removed from the plant and red light is no longer reflected therefrom to the photo-cell, relay I22 deenergizes sufficiently to open its contacts I50. This breaks the circuit for the magnet 11 causing a disengagement of clutch jaws 69 and 69a. Immediately thereupon spring IOI acts to return the picking mechanism to its normal retracted position.

The control units are energized by IIO volt direct current provided by the generator I30 mounted at the rear end of the tractor and driven through the belt connection I3I and a pair of bevel gears mounted in housing I32, the drive of which is connected by means of a shaft I33 with the regular power take-oif shaft of the tractor. Cables I34 and I35 are the leads from the generator to the control apparatus. In Figure 10 cables I36 are the leads from'the generator to terminals I3'I of each control circuit and the cables I38 are the leads from the terminals I39 to the individual magnets for the individual picking mechanisms.

Two cotton receiving hoppers I50 and II are provided at the rear end of the tractor. Cotton is delivered thereto from the cotton receiving chambers through the pipes I62 and I63 through an induced draft provided from the fan I64 having belt connection I66 with the belt pulley of the tractor. Fan I64 is connected with the pipes I62'and I63 through tube connections I 66 and I61, these leading into the pipes at the proper angle to induce the draft in the direction of the delivery end of the pipes.

Itwill thus be seen from the above that I have provided a cotton picker which is adapted to remove only the opened cotton bolls which are ripe, the cotton plant and any unopened bolls being otherwise not touched or injured in any way, in connection with suitable means for conveying and receiving'the cotton so picked, all of the operating mechanism being actuated by the motor of the tractor.

While I have thus described above the preferred structural embodiment, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that my invention is not to be limited to the specific detailed construction illustrated, but thatm-in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of 'my'invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire. to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A harvester comprising a normally inoperative harvesting mechanism, means for moving said mechanism into plant engaging relation, and light sensitive means responsive to the reflection of light from a crop in condition to be harvested for initiating the operation of said harvesting mechanism. 5

2. A cotton picker including normally inoperative mechanisms, means for moving said mechanisms into plant engaging position, said means including a control device responsive to the reflected light from unobscured cotton within the range of the picking mechanism.

3. A cotton picker including a plurality of picking devices normally in a retracted position, and means for eachdevice for projecting the device into a cotton plant, said meansincluding a control device responsive to the reflected light from unobscured cotton within the range of the picking device.

4. A harvester comprising row following means, a harvesting unit movably supported thereby and adapted to be shifted into and out of plant engaging position, means tending to hold said unit out of operative plant engaging position, and means responsive to light reflected from the fruit of the plants for shifting said harvesting unit into operative position. A

5. A cotton picker comprising row following means, a picking unit carried by said means and including normally inoperative picking mechanism, and control mechanism for moving said picking mechanism into plant engaging position. said control mechanism comprising light sensitive means responsive to light reflected from opened cotton bolls.

6. A cotton picker comprising row following means, a picker unit mounted on said means and including picking mechanism shiftable into and out of operative plant engaging position, means for shifting said picking mechanism into operative position, and means for initiating the operation of saidlast mentioned means including a light sensitive means responsive to the reflection of light from the opened bolls, whereby said picking mechanism is shifted into operative position only in the presence of cotton to be picked.

7. A cotton picker including row following means, normally inoperative picking means carfor shifting said unit into operative position, and means for controlling said last mentioned means including means for projecting light rays upon the cotton plants and means responsive to the reflection oi said rays fromthe opened cotton bolls;

I. A cotton picker comprising row following means, a picker unit carried thereby and including a longitudinally disposed tunnel adapted to be moved along the plant row, picking mechanism associated therewith and including picking means shiftably mounted for movement into and out of operative position in said tunnel, and control means thereforincluding a source of light and light sensitive means responsive to light reflected from the opened cotton bolls for shifting the picking means into operative position.

9. A cotton picker comprising row following means, a longitudinally disposed tunnel carried thereby and including a pair of transversely spaced walls, picking means associated with said tunnel and arranged at one'side thereof, said mechanism including transversely shiftable picking mechanism movable into and out of the space between said walls, a source of light for illuminating the cotton plants as they pass between said walls, and means responsive to the presence of light reflected from opened cotton bolls between said walls for shifting the picking mechanism into operative position.

10. A harvester comprising, in combination, 'a tractor having a motor, a harvesting unit supportby the tractor and including row following means, normally inoperative harvesting mechanism carried by'said row following means, means for driving said mechanism from the motor of the tractor, and means responsive to the light reflected from the crop in condition to be harvestedior initiating the operation of said mechanis'm from said driving means.

11. A cotton picker comprising, in combination. a tractor having a motor, a plurality of picker units supported by the tractor, each unit including row following meansand picking mechanism shiftable into and out of position to engage the plants of the rows, and control means for said picker unit including means sensitive to the light reflected from opened cotton bolls and activated bi'the power of the motor of the tractor and means controlled by said sensitive means for shifting said picking mechanism into operative position whenever an opened cotton boll comes within the operative range of said sensitive means. 12; A cotton picker comprising, in combination, a tractor having a motor, a plurality of picker units supported by the tractor, each unit including'row following means and picking mechanism shiftable into and out of position to engage the plants of the rows, and control means for said picker unit including means to generate electricity carried by the tractor and'driven from the motor thereof, a light sensitive cell actuated by said source of electricity, said cell being disposed to be responsive to the light reflected from opened cotton bolls, and means controlled by said cell for shifting the picker mechanism into operative position. 70

13. A cotton picker comprising, in combination, a tractor having a motor, a plurality of picker units supported by the tractor, each unit including row following means and picking mechanism shiftable into and out of position to cause the plants of the rows, and control means s,ose,e7c'

for said picker unit including means to generate" electricity carried by the tractor and driven from the motor thereof, a light sensitive cell actuated by said source of electricity, said cell being disposed to be responsive to the light reflected from opened cotton bolls, magnetic means energized when light falls on said photo-electric cell,-and means actuated by said magnetic means for shifting the picker mechanism into operative position. I

14. A harvester comprising, in combination, a wheeled supporting frame, a plurality of harvesting units supported thereby, each of said units including a series of vertically spaced individual harvesting mechanisms movable into and out of operative plant engaging position, power operated means for operating said mechanisms, and control mechanism including light. sensitive means responsive to light reflected from the crop in condition to be harvested for moving the associated individual harvesting mechanism into operative position.

15. A harvester comprising, in combination, a wheeled supporting frame, a plurality of harvesting units supported thereby, each of said units including a series of vertically spaced individual harvesting mechanisms movable into and out of .operative plant engaging position, power operated means for operating said mechanisms, and control means including a light sensitive cell for each of said individual harvesting mechanisms responsive to light reflected from the crop in condition to be harvested for moving the'associated individual harvesting mechanism into operative position.

16. A cotton picker comprising, in combination, a wheeled supporting frame, a picker unit carried thereby and including row following means, a plurality of individual picking mechanisms carried by said means and including a shiftable picker member movable into and out of operative plant engaging position, means responsive to light rays reflected from opened cotton bolls in the immediate vicinity of each of the individual picking mechanisms for projecting the associated picker member into operative position to pick the opened bolls, stripper means for removing the picked cotton, and means carried by the tractor for raising the picker unit out of operative position.

17. A cotton picker. comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a picker unit carried thereby, said picker unit including a plurality of individual picking mechanisms each including a member normally disposed in inoperative position and shiftable into operative position to pick cotton from adjacent plants, a constantly driven member for shifting said picking member into operative position, magnetic means for connecting said members whereby said individual picking mechanism is rendered operative, and means for controlling said magnetic means including .a

- product in condition to be gathered in one of said paths for initiating the operation of the control device individual to the gathering mechanism in whose path said product appears.

19. A cotton harvester comprising a normally inoperative harvesting mechanism, means for efiecting the operation of said mechanism, and light sensitive means responsive to the reflection of light from a cotton crop in condition to be harvested for initiating the operation of said harvesting mechanism.

20. A cotton harvester having means to pick cotton from a cotton plant, in combination, a source of light and a photo-electric cell connected in circuit with the cotton picking means, said photo-electric cell being actuated by light reflected from ripened cotton, and initiating an operation of said cotton picking means.

21. In a cotton harvester including means to traverse a cotton plant and means to detach matured cotton from the bolls of the cotton plant, in combination, a source of light and photo-responsive means selectively responsive to light reflected from matured cotton, means to connect said photo-responsive means with thedetaching means to initiate an operation of said detaching means.

22. In a cotton harvester machine having ground wheels and a casing, which machine is adapted to straddle and traverse a row of cotton plants, a shielded enclosure within the body of the machine, normally inoperative means to pick cotton from cotton plants, a source of light within the enclosure and means within the enclosure and responsive to light reflected from exposed cotton on the plant to initiate the operation of said picking means.

23. A cotton harvester comprising a machine adapted to straddle and traverse a row of cotton CHARLES H. WHITE. 

